Wednesday, 14 May 2014

Despite the growing anti-Islam sentiment across the country, British students are coming together to fight Islamophobia

In a move that will be welcomed by many, the
National Union of Students (NUS) yesterday passed a motion condemning
the activities of the increasingly controversial group Student Rights.

The decision comes as a result of resolutions passed at
seven student union branches across Britain calling for a public
condemnation of the group, due to what they see as its gratuitously
hostile targeting of Muslim students.

Student Rights,
which was launched in 2009 to tackle extremism on university campuses,
and has links with the neoconservative Henry Jackson Society, whose
associate director Douglas Murray infamously remarked that “conditions
for Muslims in Europe must be made harder across the board”.

Since
its establishment, its critics say, Student Rights has attempted to
discredit student Islamic societies across the country by publishing
sensationalist and misleading claims about extremism on campus. The union at the London School of Economics, for example,
argues that a 2013 report published by the group on gender segregation
at Muslim student events failed to determine whether segregation was
enforced or voluntary. Instead, they say, the report presented sought to
present segregation as "part of a wider discriminatory trend" on
campuses, resulting in the mainstream media following their lead and
associating gender segregation with extremism.

Yesterday’s
condemnation could be an important step in isolating the group and
delegitimising some of its more aggressive claims. It means that
universities across the country will be cautious before engaging with
the group and offering them a platform – which, ironically, is exactly
what Student Rights was hoping to achieve with Islamic societies.

Hillary
Aked, who has been campaigning for such a move through counter-group
The Real Student Rights, said: “This vote shows that Student Rights -
despite their name - have no right to claim to be defending or
representing students who in fact view them as a damaging force,
marginalising Muslim students on campus and stigmatising them in the
press. It raises big questions about why the Henry Jackson Society wants
to monitor British campuses, and why the media gives them a platform.
It also shows that students are challenging discourses about 'extremism
on campus' with mature intersectional campaigns.”

Aaron Kiely, the NUS Black Students' Officer, also outlined his views on
yesterday’s resolution saying: "Student Rights are not a legitimate
organisation, with a total lack of transparency and have been the source
of many sensationalist stories demonising Muslims. The NUS condemning
them will hopefully put an end to this toxic organisation."

A spokesman for Student Rights said: "This decision by the
NUS is very disappointing for us. I don't think universities will
disengage with us - we are committed to continuing our work on tackling
all forms of extremism on campus, and will continue to do so despite
this latest ruling."

As someone who has been involved
with student Islamic societies over the last few years, I’ve been at the
receiving end of Students Rights’ campaigns and seen first-hand the
fear-mongering, alienation and mistrust it has created around the Muslim
community in Britain.

At a time where almost every
aspect of Muslim life - from the niqab to halal meat – is often treated
in as sensational a manner as possible, this NUS decision will be
welcomed by many well-being British students. It will also happily serve to increase their general trust and
commitment to democracy and union politics - which are both proving to
be potent forces against hate campaigns and Islamophobia on UK campuses.

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About Me

Journalist, writer and researcher specialising in issues concerning Muslim communities, community cohesion, radicalisation and counter-terrorism policy
Contributes to the Huffington Post UK and the Independent and hosts a blog on combating extremism